1st Edition

Properties, Powers and Structures Issues in the Metaphysics of Realism

Edited By Alexander Bird, Brian Ellis, Howard Sankey Copyright 2012
280 Pages
by Routledge

290 Pages
by Routledge

280 Pages
by Routledge

While the phrase "metaphysics of science" has been used from time to time, it has only recently begun to denote a specific research area where metaphysics meets philosophy of science—and the sciences themselves. The essays in this volume demonstrate that metaphysics of science is an innovative field of research in its own right. The principle areas covered are: The modal metaphysics of... Read more

Selected Contents: Part 1: Symposium on Properties  1. The Categorical Dimensions of the Causal Powers Brian Ellis  2. Defending Categoricalism D.M. Armstrong  3. Monistic Dispositional Essentialism Alexander Bird  Part 2: Levels of Inquiry  4. Levels of Reality and Scales of Application Patrick McGivern Part 3: Realism in Mathematics  5. Anti-Nominalistic Scientific Realism: A Defence Stathis Psillos  6. Indispensability without Platonism Anne Newstead and James Franklin  Part 4: Dispositions and Causal Powers  7. Causal Dispositionalism Stephen Mumford and Rani Lill Anjum  8. Powerful Properties and the Causal Basis of Dispositions Max Kistler  9. Four Theories of Pure Dispositions William A. Bauer Part 5: Pan-Dispositionalism  10. The Metaphysics of Pan-Dispositionalism Matthew Tugby  11. The Categorical–Dispositional Distinction Sharon R. Ford  12. Dispositional Essentialism and the Laws of Nature Barbara Vetter  Part 6: Natural Kinds  13. The Metaphysics of Determinable Kinds Emma Tobin  14. Scientific Kinds without Essences Corinne L. Bloch

Biography

Alexander Bird is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol.

Brian Ellis is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at La Trobe University and Professorial Fellow in Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.

Howard Sankey is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.